Horseback Ride Across USA
A November 30, 2007 Keizer Times article (in Keizer, Oregon) reported that Matthew McDaniel would ride by horseback across the USA to raise awareness of the Akha. The article reported: "He plans to start his journey in Lincoln City, making his way to Los Angeles and New Orleans before finally ending up at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. All told he plans to travel some 4,500 miles. He said the ride could take seven months or more."
Here follows a quote from a November 30, 2007 Salem Monthly article (in Salem, Oregon):
The effort is "a commitment to the Akha people to protect their lands, to send a message to the Thai government that the Queen of Thailand needs to give back the land of the Akha, to raise public awareness and end the removal of children from their villages and families by missionaries," he said.
The McDaniel family's "Ride for Freedom" via horseback and bus began in Oregon March 6, 2009. On riding days McDaniel rode the horse, Hampton. He then hitchhiked back to a large touring-size bus where his family was located. There were found his Akha wife, Michu Uaiyue, and their 5 children aged 8 to 2. McDaniel then drove the bus to the horse. Then when ready he rode the horse another day. By May 5, 2009 the family had arrived in Half Moon Bay, California (20 miles south of San Francisco).
Hampton the horse is 17.2 hands high and eats 20 pounds of feed a day. A daily ride was around 20 to 25 miles, although they did 60 miles one day. McDaniel mapped the route with his iPhone. Concerning Hampton, he stated: "You have to make a deal with a horse. You can't fake it."
A May 13, 2009 Santa Cruz Sentinel article reported that McDaniel's web site included a journal of the trip. The article also stated:
Using her husband as a translator, Michu declares: "Until the queen gives our land back, people should keep talking about this."
The Akha Heritage Foundation web site links to McDaniel's official YouTube channel that has many videos of the ride. On day 300 (Dec. 30, 2009) McDaniel was in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and had Hampton's horseshoes replaced again.
On day 382 (Monday, March 22, 2010) McDaniel arrived in New York City. The Keizer Times reported: "By noon he had hit Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the United Nations and finally Central Park, where he had arranged for someone to pick up him and his horse for a respite in rural New Jersey."
The next step is the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City in April 2010.
Read more about this topic: Matthew McDaniel
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